Summer has wound down yet again, and just like the last two years we have a new Synology product to review. Synology has also just finished up beta testing of a new DiskStation firmware (DS 3.2), and while there is nothing mind blowing included, there are some solid new features and tons of updates on their foundation services and applications worth checking out.

The review of the DiskStation DS411+ in 2010 revealed a NAS that offered awesome performance, and quite an upgrade over the DiskStation DS409slim that was reviewed in 2009. This time around we are not taking a step up in terms of model number or performance, but instead we have a more budget conscious product that is well suited for the small business/home office.

The product in question is the Synology DiskStation DS411 4-Bay NAS server, shown in the promotional image above. While it shares a model name and physical features much like the DS411+ reviewed about one year ago, this review will take a closer look at what sets the two devices apart. Before getting in to the heart of the review, let's take a look at some of the key features and specifications for the Synology DiskStation DS411. For the latest and most complete details, please visit the official product page on the Synology website.